New Birds

Ghost Town Part 26

"It's too quiet." Louis stepped across the veranda and handed Tilly a tea.

"Thank you." She took it in both hands and blew into it. "I for one like quiet."

Hal sat near them. A plaid blanket across his knees. Keitin played with the dial on the oxygen tank that sat in a silver oval holder on the back of Hal's chair. It was the last of the four tanks he had picked up in Calgary a few weeks back. "I'll need to make another run soon," Keitin said.

Louis glanced at Hal. His breathing appeared to have worsened the last few days. "I'll make the run this time. I need to fetch my vehicle from Smoke Junction, anyway. May as well keep going."

"No, Louis." Tilly stared at him over the rim of her cup. "I rather you stay here. At least until we hear something from Cameron."

Keitin mumbled, patting his shirt pocket for long gone tobacco. "My father will be out of oxygen by then."

"Well, you go fetch the vehicle, Keitin, and you take it to Calgary," she said.

"Appears to me this also conveniently lines up with another tobacco run. Or does this nephew have you worried enough to get gone this time? Louis asked.

"I thought nothing would please you more than seeing the back of me, Louis," Keitin said.

Tilly went into the house and returned with the semi-automatic. "Just in case."

"You expect me to carry that heavy thing all the way to town?" Keitin said.

"Okay, take the bike and this." She reached into her waistband and pulled out the Luger.

Keitin sighed, obviously rethinking things as he looked down the path that would lead him to the gate. "Should I remind you I am still recovering from two heart attacks?"

"For shit's sake." Louis took the gun from her, kissing her on the cheek. "I can at least fetch the vehicle and bring it back here for him. I'm itching for news. Let me go."

"There and straight back. Please." Tilly walked him to the bike, her hand protectively on his back.

* * *

Farling signaled from the tower that all was clear. Once outside the gate, Louis took a moment to readjust the bike seat. When Farling appeared suddenly beside him, Louis jumped, almost dropping the bike but catching it by the seat post. "Shit, Farling. How did you get down here that quick?"

Farling ignored his question. "I just want you to know I can't allow you back in if it interferes with their safety."

"I'll keep that in mind." Louis watched as Farling shut the gate on him. The warning left Louis slightly perturbed. Farling's commitment appeared wholly to Samantha and Marshall. It had little to do with the ark and even less to do with the town he spent most of his life preaching to. Or was it most of his life? Hard to say just how old Farling was. Or if Farling would allow him back inside.

Half an hour later, with the noonday sun overhead, he peddled into town. The main street was empty. Not a soul anywhere. This on any day was unusual, but a death always brought out the social necessities in a remote township such as Smoke Junction. A death such as Terra's would have citizens still gathering in small groups for weeks discussing the fibres from it. But it was as quiet as the first touches of dawn down here.

Three of Terra's tiny elk stood near the market, one stood on its steps. One bounded across the street in front of him. This was also highly unusual. He slowed. Something was amiss. A sharp sting to his shoulder caused him to brake so hard it lifted the bike's back wheel, almost dumping him over the handlebars. Planting a foot on the ground, he looked to his right, up towards The Sleeping Giant; a forty-foot boulder that looked unclimbable from this side but was easily gained on the other. The view from up there was of the entire town and then some. Chancy's boy stood on the north side of it, waving at him frantically with his slingshot in hand. Louis touched his shoulder. Had the boy really hit him from that distance? That was his first thought. But he quickly realized the boy was trying to warn him. To hide.